2 new apps for Ortho Patient education

DrawMD is a great tool to help surgeons visually explain procedures  iMedicalApps

Zimmer announces release of Arthritis 411 app for iPad  iMedicalApps

Confusion Reigns in MoM Hip Implant Debacle (with video)

Although there is wide agreement that metal-on-metal hip implants have not performed as well as they should overall, consensus on managing patients who already have them remains elusive.

That was the essential take-away message from a series of research studies presented here at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons' annual meeting this week. Seemingly, every talk contradicted the one preceding it. Medpage Today 

Authors with financial conflicts reporting negative outcomes in major orthopaedic journals

In a new study presented today at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), researchers completed a systematic review of three major orthopaedic journals – the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American and British editions) and the Journal of Arthroplasty (JOA) – for all articles related to metal-on-metal total hip replacement between October 1999 and May 2011. As a conflict of interest can increase the potential for research bias and study outcomes, the AAOS and major orthopaedic journals require all presenters and authors to disclose potential professional conflicts. Eurekalert!

Delaying ACL reconstruction in kids may lead to higher rates of associated knee injuries

Kids treated more than 150 days after an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury have higher rates of other knee injuries, including medial meniscal tears, say researchers presenting at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's (AOSSM) Specialty Day in San Francisco, CA. Eurekalert!

PRP treatment aids healing of elbow injuries say researchers

 As elbow injuries continue to rise, especially in pitchers, procedures to help treat and get players back in the game quickly have been difficult to come by. However, a newer treatment called platelet rich plasma (PRP) may pose hope, according to researchers presenting their findings at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's Specialty Day meeting in San Francisco. Eurekalert!

Treatment for hip conditions should not rest solely on MRI scans

When it comes to treating people with hip pain, physicians should not replace clinical observation with the use of magnetic resonance images (MRI), according to research being presented today at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's (AOSSM) Specialty Day in San Francisco, CA.

"We performed MRI scans on a sample of volunteers without any hip pain, and discovered about 73% had abnormal findings," commented the study's lead author Bradley C. Register, MD, of the Steadman-Philippon Research Institute. Eurekalert!

New data provides direction for ACL injured knee treatments

Primary Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction improves quality of life and sports functionality for athletes, according to research presented today at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's Specialty Day in San Francisco, CA.

"ACL knee injuries have long been a source of problems for athletes, and we are excited to have such a large body of data to evaluate different treatments," said Jüri T Kartus, MD, Department of Orthopaedics, NU-Hospital Organization, Sweden. "To see patients improving in the years following surgery is a great indicator of what we are doing right." Eurekalert!

Steroid injections prove effective in treatment of lumbar disc herniations

The use of epidural steroid injections may be a more efficient treatment option for lumbar disc herniations, according to research presented today at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's Specialty Day in San Francisco.

"Our study showed an 89% success rate in athletes returning to play after suffering an injury during practice or a game," commented lead author Aaron J. Krych, MD, from the Mayo Clinic's Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. "These injections are a safe initial therapy in athletes that do not have neurological deficits, allows them to participate effectively in physical therapy sooner, and can significantly reduce the time a player misses." Eurekalert!

Orthopaedic surgery report provides transparency on patient safety, quality initiatives

At NYU Langone Medical Center the focus on quality, patient safety and patient experience are not just broad stroke initiatives – but measureable, quantifiable and concrete. Patients and health care professionals can learn about this commitment to world-class care and operational transparency in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery's recently published "2012 Quality and Outcomes Report," which is now available online as well as in hard copy at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) meeting taking place this week in San Francisco. MedicalXPress

Arthritic knees, but not hips, have robust repair response

Researchers at Duke University Medical Center used new tools they developed to analyze knees and hips and discovered that osteoarthritic knee joints are in a constant state of repair, while hip joints are not.

"This suggests the knee has capacity for repair we didn't know about and the main treatment strategy probably would need to focus on turning off the breakdown of knee tissue," said Virginia Kraus, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Rheumatology and Immunology at Duke.

The findings, published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry on Friday, Feb. 10, suggest that for hips, however, turning off the degenerative process might not be enough. The hips would need a treatment to both turn off of the degenerative process as well as stimulate factors that could help to begin repair. Eurekalert!

Army studies: High recurrence of shoulder instability, better arthroscopic repair outcomes

Two studies on shoulder instability in a military population were presented today by U.S. Army sports medicine surgeons at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons' annual meeting. Findings in one study suggest patients with a self-reported history of shoulder instability are far more likely to experience future instability, while the second study outlined key factors associated with surgical failure and concluded that arthroscopic surgical intervention has better outcomes than an open shoulder repair. Eurekalert!

Shorter hospital stay for knee replacement linked with greater revision, mortality risks

No previous research has quantified and compared the costs and outcomes between total knee replacement (TKR) patients who have differing lengths of hospital stay following surgery.

In new research presented today at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), investigators identified Medicare patients who had undergone TKR between 1997 and 2009. The patients were separated into the following groups: outpatient, 1-day inpatient, 2-day inpatient, 3- or 4-day inpatient (standard of care), and 5 plus day inpatient. Investigators reviewed outcomes for the patient groups including annual payments, mortality, readmission, revision and common complications. Eurekalert!

New method makes culture of complex tissue possible in any lab

Scientists at the University of California, San Diego have developed a new method for making scaffolds for culturing tissue in three-dimensional arrangements that mimic those in the body. This advance, published online in the journal Advanced Materials, allows the production of tissue culture scaffolds containing multiple structurally and chemically distinct layers using common laboratory reagents and materials. Eurekalert!

AAOS focuses on disaster responders, both yesterday's and tomorrow's

When mass-casualty events occur, orthopaedic surgeons travel throughout the world to treat wounded patients in countries devastated by war, natural disaster and poverty. In 2010, 500 U.S. orthopaedic surgeons traveled to Haiti to help treat hundreds of thousands of victims following a catastrophic earthquake on that Caribbean island. And while the effort was generally successful in treating the broken bones, fractures and other orthopaedic injuries associated with earthquakes, not all of the volunteers were adequately prepared to work in a devastated country.

"Individual physicians arrived without food, equipment, transportation and personal security, or an assignment," said Christopher T. Born, MD, who co-chaired the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)/Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) Disaster Preparedness Project Team. Eurekalert!

4.5 million Americans living with total knee replacement

New research presented at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) found that more than 4.5 million Americans are living with a total knee replacement (TKR), as the number of TKR surgeries has more than doubled over the past decade, with the sharpest rise among younger patients. Osteoarthritis continues to be the primary reason for TKR. Eurekalert!

Rothman at Jefferson researchers show benefits of local anesthesia after knee replacement surgery

Researchers at the Rothman Institute at Jefferson have shown that local anesthesia delivered through a catheter in the joint, intraarticularly, may be more beneficial than traditional opioids such as morphine and Oxycontin for pain management following total knee replacement surgery. Their research will be recognized with the Knee Society Award for the best work on a surgical technique at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons annual meeting, February 7-11 in San Francisco. Eurekalert!

Video-based home exercise can minimize osteoarthritis pain, improve mobility

The benefits of exercise in minimizing pain and improving mobility for individuals living with osteoarthritis has been well documented.

In a new study presented today at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), 107 individuals with diagnosed osteoarthritis in the knee were randomized to either a DVD-based exercise group, or a control group. The "DVD" group received a DVD-based exercise program, as well as verbal and hands-on exercise instructions, for the first four to eight weeks. The individuals in both groups were evaluated at three, six and 12 months. Eurekalert!

Anxiety trait linked to post-operative pain in men following total knee replacement

Increased pain following surgery has long been linked to anxiety and "catastrophizing," an extreme response to stress.

In a new study presented today at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), 97 patients – men and women – who were about to undergo minimally invasive total knee replacement (TKR) surgery, completed a brief survey to quantify their level of anxiety, as well as their typical level of anxiety and potential for catastrophizing. Pain data was then collected for seven days following surgery. Eurekalert!

BattleView Infrared Vascular Trans-illuminator Shows Off Veins When The Lights Are Out

Let’s just say that you’re a medic out there “in the field” in the middle of the night, with bad guys all over the surrounding hill tops, and they just shot one of your buddies.  You managed to move the injured soldier to a safer location, and are attempting to setup an IV, but you certainly don’t want to turn on the flashlight with enemy snipers scanning every inch of the landscape.

That’s where the BattleView Infrared Vascular Trans-illuminator may be of help, as it shines infrared light through the body part where you’re trying to set the IV, illuminating the internal anatomy for your night vision goggles to see as bright as day. MedGadget

Post surgical phone support improves outcome following knee replacement

 Poor emotional health and morbid obesity are associated with less functional gain following total knee replacement (TKR) surgery. In the new study, "Can Telephone Support During Post-TKR Rehabilitation Improve Post-op Function: A Randomized Controlled Trial," presented today at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), approximately 180 patients were categorized by gender, body mass index (BMI) and emotional health. Each patient randomly received either emotional telephone support by a trained behavioral specialist, or standard patient care. Telephone support included three phone calls before surgery, one in-person hospital visit, and eight weekly post-operative calls. Eurekalert!

Rothman at Jefferson researchers find epidural steroid injections do not benefit spine patients

 Researchers at the Rothman Institute at Jefferson examined data on patients being treated for lumbar stenosis and the degenerative spine condition spondylolisthesis and found that patients who received epidural steroid injections (ESI) had a higher rate of crossover to surgery and fared worse in physical health and bodily pain versus those who did not receive ESI, dispelling their pre-study hypothesis. Eurekalert!

Aspirin may prevent DVT and PE in joint replacement patients

Following a total joint replacement, anticoagulation (blood thinning) drugs can prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot deep within the extremities, or a pulmonary embolism (PE), a complication that causes a blood clot to move to the lungs. However, prolonged use of these therapies may increase the risk of hemorrhage and infection.

In the study, "Aspirin was Effective to Prevent Proximal DVT and PE in TKA and THA - Analysis of 1,500 Cases," presented today at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), investigators performed a venography, a test for DVT, before and after knee or hip surgery on 1,500 patients. All patients used a foot pump and wore an elastic stocking immediately after surgery. In addition, each patient took a regular dose of aspirin beginning two days post-surgery. Eurekalert!

Risk of pulmonary embolism greatest during first week following total joint replacement

The elevated risk of pulmonary embolism (PE) – a blood clot that travels from the leg to the lungs – following total joint replacement (TJR) surgery has been well established, yet little is known about the natural course and timing of this potentially fatal condition.

In the study, "Pulmonary Embolism Following Total Joint Arthroplasty: When Do They Occur?", presented at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), researchers reviewed the records of 25,660 patients who received TJR between 2000 and 2010. All patients received the anticoagulation (blood thinning) drug Coumadin immediately following surgery and each was monitored, but not screened, for PE. Pulmonary embolism occurring within 90 days of the joint replacement was documented. Eurekalert!

Economic factors impact orthopaedic trauma volume

Previous studies have found that human behavior during a recession is remarkably different than that during a bullish economy. For example, people tend to spend more time focused on working and less time engaging in leisure and recreation activities, resulting in fewer motor vehicle and other accidents.

According to a 10-year study at a Level 1 regional trauma center, presented today at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), economic trends do impact orthopedic trauma volume. Eurekalert!

Rothman at Jefferson research suggests abandon convention in diagnosing periprosthetic joint infection

In their search for new, better ways to diagnose periprosthetic joint infection, Rothman Institute at Jefferson researchers have discovered that measurement of C-reactive protein in the synovial fluid is extremely accurate, while measuring a patients’ serum white blood cell count (WBC) and the percentage of neutrophils (PMN%), the conventional method for diagnosis, has a minimal role in the determination of PJI.

Eurekalert!

Rothman at Jefferson research suggests abandon convention in diagnosing periprosthetic joint infection

In their search for new, better ways to diagnose periprosthetic joint infection, Rothman Institute at Jefferson researchers have discovered that measurement of C-reactive protein in the synovial fluid is extremely accurate, while measuring a patients’ serum white blood cell count (WBC) and the percentage of neutrophils (PMN%), the conventional method for diagnosis, has a minimal role in the determination of PJI. Eurekalert!

Archive of failed joint replacements provides tips to building a better hip replacement

A study by Hospital for Special Surgery researchers has provided the first comprehensive look at just how metal-on-metal total hip replacements are failing in patients around the country. Made possible by what is thought to be the largest archive of failed joint replacements, the research should help doctors develop a better hip replacement for future patients. The study will be reported at the upcoming annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Feb. 7-11. Eurekalert!

New procedure bests standard of care for fixing damaged cartilage

A new study has demonstrated that a procedure wherein healthy cartilage is transplanted to fix an area of damaged cartilage (osteoarticular cartilage transplantation or OATS procedure) is superior to the standard of care for repairing cartilage defects. It is thought that fixing such lesions may ultimately help to prevent the onset of osteoarthritis, and get athletic individuals back to sporting activities reliably. The study by Hospital for Special Surgery researchers was reported at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Feb. 7-11. Eurekalert!

Halting bone-building osteoporosis drug use cuts risk for additional atypical femur fracture in half

There is growing evidence that supports an association between atypical fractures of the femur– a rare break of the thigh bone, typically without trauma – and the use of bisphosphonates, drugs proven to enhance bone density and reduce fracture incidence caused by osteoporosis. While the risk for suffering an atypical femur fracture while taking bisphosphonates is still very small – just 1 in 1,000 patients after six years of treatment – research presented today at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) found that discontinuing bisphosphonate use following an atypical femur fracture can significantly lower the risk for a subsequent atypical fracture. Eurekalert!

Obese children more likely to suffer growth plate fractures

Obese children are 74 percent more likely to sustain a fracture of the growth plate, the softer end of the bone where growth occurs. A new study presented today at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), involved 224 children visiting a Maryland hospital with a fracture. Information was collected on each patient regarding their sex, age, height, weight, fracture location and pattern. Patients ages 2 to 16 were divided into two groups for comparison: a "normal weight" group and an "obese/overweight" group for children with a body mass index (BMI) greater than the 85 percentile. Eurekalert!

Antidepressant use linked with less patient satisfaction after hip replacement

Patients taking antidepressants up to three years prior to undergoing a total hip replacement (THR) were more likely to report greater pain before and after surgery and less satisfaction with their procedure, according to new research presented today at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). Eurekalert!

Excessive sporting activity may impair long-term success of hip resurfacing

In hip resurfacing the femoral ball in the hip joint is not removed, but instead is trimmed and capped with a smooth metal covering. Young and active patients with arthritis often choose hip resurfacing over total hip replacement to minimize the risk of hip dislocation, and to preserve the bone for a revision surgery should the primary resurfacing fail. However, the long-term effects of sports on a resurfaced hip were unknown.

In new research presented today at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), investigators surveyed 445 patients between one and five years after hip resurfacing. Eurekalert!

Online support following joint replacement surgery is cost and time effective for patients

Patients who have had total joint replacement (TJR) are expected to return to their physician's office or clinic regularly for routine follow-up care. In a new study presented today at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), researchers asked 210 TKR patients (with no known complications) to either complete a Web-based follow-up, which included an online survey and an X-ray taken at the nearest Internet-enabled facility; or, to return to the clinic/office for their regular appointment.  Eurekalert!

Annual cost of defensive orthopaedic medicine estimated at $2 billion

In a first-ever national survey of orthopaedic surgeons, 96 percent said they have practiced defensive medicine – the ordering of tests, referrals to specialists and hospital admissions primarily to avoid liability and without significant benefit to patients – according to a new study presented today at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). The study estimates the annual cost of defensive orthopaedic care at $2 billion. Eurekalert!

Ultrasound can reliably diagnose hip dysplasia at age 6 months

Developmental dislocation (dysplasia) of the hip (DDH) is a common congenital condition in which a child's upper thighbone is dislocated from the hip socket. The condition can be present at birth or develop during a child's first year of life. Plain radiography (X-rays) has long been the gold standard screening modality for this condition in 6-month-old children, despite concerns over exposing very young children to ionizing radiation.

In new research presented today at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), 35, 5- to 7-month-old children at high risk for DDH were screened with the standard pelvis X-ray, as well as a bilateral non-stress hip ultrasounds. Blinded orthopaedic surgeons then evaluated the X-rays and ultrasounds for standard measure of hip dysplasia. Of the 35 children involved in the study, only one was diagnosed with dysplasia, and the diagnosis was made on both the ultrasound and X-ray. Eurekalert!

Physician adoption of mobile devices outpacing software development

Mobile devices in healthcare organizations are no longer a rare sight – some reports suggest that as many as 80% of physicians use mobile devices at work. Yet despite this rapid adoption, a survey from SpyGlass Consulting indicates that physicians believe that mobile devices currently fill a limited number of uses and fall short of their potential.

The report, Point of Care Computing for Physicians 2012 indicates that while 98 percent of physicians interviewed are using mobile devices to support both personal and professional workflows, 83 percent of them are still using desktop computers as their primary source for accessing patient data when at the hospital, clinic or home. iMedicalApps

Does Foot Form Explain Running Injuries?

The members of Harvard University’s men’s and women’s distance running squads are young, fast, fit, skinny, bright, disciplined and, without exception, dutiful. Every day during the cross-country and track seasons, they enter their mileage and pace into an online training Web site overseen by the team’s coaches and trainers.

They also, like most serious runners, get hurt with distressing frequency, often missing practice due to aching muscles or over-stressed bones. Each of those injuries, no matter how niggling, also gets duly reported and entered into the computer.

Meaning that these student athletes, in their high-achieving way, fashioned an excellent database through which to examine running-related injuries, as evidenced by a study published online last month in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. NYT

World’s First Titanium Mandible Created, 205 More Bones Needed for a Complete Terminator

A multidisciplinary team of engineers and clinicians led by The Functional Morphology Research Group at the University of Hasselt BIOMED Research Institute has created what they believe to be the very first complete 3D-printed lower jaw. The implant was manufactured by Layerwise NV, a company based in Leuven, Belgium that specializes in additive manufacturing. MedGadget

UGA discovery uses 'fracture putty' to repair broken bone in days

Broken bones in humans and animals are painful and often take months to heal. Studies conducted in part by University of Georgia Regenerative Bioscience Center researchers show promise to significantly shorten the healing time and revolutionize the course of fracture treatment. MedicalXpress

Exercise triggers stem cells in muscle

University of Illinois researchers determined that an adult stem cell present in muscle is responsive to exercise, a discovery that may provide a link between exercise and muscle health. The findings could lead to new therapeutic techniques using these cells to rehabilitate injured muscle and prevent or restore muscle loss with age. U of I

Smallest tools could give biggest results in bone repair

When William Murphy works with some of the most powerful tools in biology, he thinks about making tools that can fit together. These constructions sound a bit like socket wrenches, which can be assembled to turn a half-inch nut in tight quarters, or to loosen a rusted-tight one-inch bolt using a very persuasive lever.

The tools used by Murphy, an associate professor of biomedical engineering and orthopedics and rehabilitation at University of Wisconsin-Madison, however, are proteins, which are vastly more flexible than socket wrenches -- and roughly 100 million times smaller. One end of his modular tool may connect to bone, while the other end may stimulate the growth of bone, blood vessels or cartilage. Eurekalert!

New DVT Guidelines

New guidelines suggest DVT prophylaxis not appropriate for all patients Eurekalert!

New DVT guidelines: No evidence to support 'economy class syndrome' Eurekalert!

Rothman Institute at Jefferson research suggests use of LE strips to diagnose PJI

Rothman Institute at Jefferson joint researchers continue to seek better ways to diagnose and subsequently treat periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) in patients following total joint arthroplasty. Their latest research shows leukocyte esterase reagent (LE) strips, common in diagnosing urinary tract infections, can also have a role in rapid diagnosis of PJI.  Eurekalert!

Study identifies steep learning curve for surgeons who perform ACL reconstructions

Patients who have their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructed by surgeons who have performed less than 60 surgeries are roughly four to five times more likely to undergo a subsequent ACL reconstruction, according to a study by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery. The study also showed that participating in a subspecialty orthopedic fellowship-training program did not improve the learning curve of young surgeons performing ACL reconstructions. The research was presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, held Feb 7-11. Eurekalert!

New from iMedicalApps

Which iPhone version works best for medical professionals?

Government personnel to receive secured Android phones may impact medical app development

National Quality Forum endorses 2 American College of Surgeons NSQIP measures

 Two outcomes-based measures from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) were recently endorsed by the National Quality Forum (NQF). The two measures, surgical site infection (SSI) and urinary tract infection (UTI), were developed by ACS in partnership with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), as possible national outcomes measures that could be adopted by the governmental body as early as 2015. Eurekalert!

Recent Ortho related articles from PubMed

1. Twenty-One-Year Follow-Up of Supination-External Rotation Type II-IV (Orthopaedic Trauma Association Type B) Ankle Fractures: A Retrospective Cohort study. Donken CC, Verhofstad MH, Edwards MJ, van Laarhoven CJ. J Orthop Trauma. 2012 Dec 21. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 22198654

2. Analysis of humeral head displacements from sequences of biplanar X-rays: repeatability study and preliminary results in healthy subjects. Lagacé PY, Billuart F, Ohl X, Skalli W, Tétreault P, de Guise J, Hagemeister N. Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin. 2012 Mar;15(3):221-9. Epub 2011 May 24. PMID: 21506033

3. Novel approaches to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of medical device-associated infections. Vergidis P, Patel R. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2012 Mar;26(1):173-86. PMID: 22284383

4. Management and prevention of prosthetic joint infection. Shuman EK, Urquhart A, Malani PN. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2012 Mar;26(1):29-39. PMID: 22284374

5. Development of a hydroxyapatite coating containing silver for the prevention of peri-prosthetic infection. Ghani Y, Coathup MJ, Hing KA, Blunn GW. J Orthop Res. 2012 Mar;30(3):356-63. Epub 2011 Sep 7. PMID: 21901753

6. Use of the V-sign in the diagnosis of bucket-handle meniscal tear of the knee. Rao N, Patel Y, Opsha O, Chen Q, Owen J, Eisemon E, Fogel J, Beltran J. Skeletal Radiol. 2012 Mar;41(3):293-7. Epub 2011 Jun 10. PMID: 21656136

7. Anatomical study of the pisotriquetral joint ligaments using ultrasonography. Moraux A, Vandenbussche L, Demondion X, Gheno R, Pansini V, Cotten A. Skeletal Radiol. 2012 Mar;41(3):321-8. Epub 2011 May 11. PMID: 21560006

8. Preoperative assessment of the cancellous bone mineral density of the proximal humerus using CT data. Krappinger D, Roth T, Gschwentner M, Suckert A, Blauth M, Hengg C, Kralinger F. Skeletal Radiol. 2012 Mar;41(3):299-304. Epub 2011 Apr 21. PMID: 21509434

9. Bionic ankle-foot prosthesis normalizes walking gait for persons with leg amputation. Herr HM, Grabowski AM. Proc Biol Sci. 2012 Feb 7;279(1728):457-64. Epub 2011 Jul 13. PMID: 21752817

10. Operating Room Traffic is a Major Concern During Total Joint Arthroplasty.

Panahi P, Stroh M, Casper DS, Parvizi J, Austin MS. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2012 Feb 3. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 22302655

11. Soft tissue structures resisting anterior instability in a computational glenohumeral joint model. Elmore KA, Wayne JS. Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin. 2012 Feb 2. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 22300449

New procedure repairs severed nerves in minutes, restoring limb use in days or weeks

American scientists believe a new procedure to repair severed nerves could result in patients recovering in days or weeks, rather than months or years. The team used a cellular mechanism similar to that used by many invertebrates to repair damage to nerve axons. Their results are published today in the Journal of Neuroscience Research.

"We have developed a procedure which can repair severed nerves within minutes so that the behavior they control can be partially restored within days and often largely restored within two to four weeks," said Professor George Bittner from the University of Texas. "If further developed in clinical trials this approach would be a great advance on current procedures that usually imperfectly restore lost function within months at best." Eurekalert!

NeuroRad for iPad is a great app for medical professionals to learn radiology

The iPads large screen and interactive interface make it an ideal platform for medical imaging.
NeuroRad by RadLynx LLC is a clinical neuroradiology reference designed for a range of healthcare professionals involved in neurological imaging of the brain. iMedicalApps